Monday, August 06, 2012

On July 16th, inmates at Central Prison, Bertie Correctional
Institution and Scotland Correctional Institution launched a hunger
strike in protest of various prison conditions, including solitary
confinement. North Carolina Department of Corrections currently holds
over 7,000 inmates out of approximately 36,000 in “Close Custody.” Among
these are inmates are those held in Maximum Control, Protective
Custody, Disciplinary Segregation and Intensive Control. Maximum
security units are described this way by the DOC:

Inmates confined in a maximum security unit typically are
in their cell 23 hours a day. During the other hour they may be allowed
to shower and exercise in the cellblock or an exterior cage. All inmate
movement is strictly controlled with the use of physical restraints and
correctional officer escort.

Prison officials at Central Prison indicated on July 28th
that only seven hunger strikers remained, but that the number
fluctuated with inmates joining and stopping. The strikers are all Close
Custody inmates and are held in their cell for 23 hours a day in
isolation. As many as 100 inmates were reported to have participated since the launch of the strike.Demands of the strikers include:

“The end of cell restriction. Sometimes prisoners are locked in
their cell for weeks or more than a month, unable to come out for
showers and recreation.”

“An immediate end to the physical and mental abuse inflicted by officers.”

“Education programs for prisoners on lock-up”

“The levels of I-Con, M-Con, and H-Con need to be done away with
altogether. When one is placed on Intensive Control Status (I-Con), one
is placed in the hole for six months and told to stay out of trouble.
But even when we stay out of trouble, we are called back to the FCC and
DCC only to be told to do another six months in the hold, infraction
free.”

“The immediate release of prisoners from solitary who have been held
unjustly or for years without infractions; this includes the Strong 8,
sent to solitary for the purpose of political intimidation.”

Central Prison in Raleigh was the site of a strike by inmates in
December 2011. The inmates were protesting conditions in their kitchen
employment. The strike leaders, referred to as the “Strong 8″ were
placed in solitary confinement for launching the work stoppage.
According to one of the strike leaders placed
in the Intensive Control unit, “I-Con is an intensive form of
segregation, typically 23 hours a day in a small solitary cell, with few
if any resources available, constantly censored mail, and little
recreational activity. Sentences on I-Con often last 6 months or
longer.”

Central Prison currently holds over 600 inmates in Close Custody. In March, an inmate with a history of self-harm was found dead in his solitary confinement cell. In North Carolina, self-harm can be punished by up to 30 days in isolation.

According to local media, it is the intention of the DOC to address the concerns of the inmates after the strike ends.

Break the Chains.info

is a news and discussion forum for supporters of political prisoners, prisoners of war, politicized social prisoners, and victims of police and state intimidation.

This blog is organized and updated autonomously of the disbanded Break the Chains Prisoner Support Network formerly based in Eugene, Oregon. While this online project shares several of the same concerns as the old Break the Chains collective, no formal organization exists behind the current web presence.

"I will never surrender my pride and dignity nor allow the system to 'cut my tongue' and I will always, without fear, speak out against these war crimes and crimes against humanity, no matter if I spend the rest of my life in a prison cage, and draw my last breath of air laying down in this steel bed surrounded by razor-wire fences and cages, and its prison policies that are designed to destroy one's humanity…."